Key switches of the inventive subject matter are designed to give users the tactile feel of key switches from expensive mechanical keyboards without drawback typically associated with alternative key switches. In some embodiments, key switches described in this application are designed to function with a sheet of membrane switches, while in other embodiments, key switches of the inventive subject matter incorporate optical switching in place of membrane switching. Embodiments for use with membrane switching feature a plunger and rocker combination that prevents the pressure from a user's key press from being directly transferred to a membrane switch, thereby reducing wear and tear. In optical switching embodiments, pressing the key switch causes an actuator, e.g., come between an optical emitter/receiver pair to register a key press.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
2. The key switch of claim 1, wherein the actuator extends through the actuator hole upon depressing the plunger.
3. The key switch of claim 1, wherein the plunger comprises an upper portion having a cross-shaped cross section to facilitate coupling a key cap thereto.
4. The key switch of claim 1, wherein the plunger comprises a piston and the lower casing comprises a piston cavity, and wherein the piston is configured to fit at least partially within the piston cavity such that the piston cavity acts as a guide for the piston's movement.
5. The key switch of claim 4, further comprising a second spring disposed between the lower casing and the plunger, wherein the piston and the piston cavity are disposed at least partially within an interior portion of the second spring.
6. The key switch of claim 5, wherein the second spring creates a first reaction force that is approximately orthogonal to a second reaction force created by the first spring.
7. The key switch of claim 1, wherein the spring directly contacts the lower casing.
8. The key switch of claim 1, wherein, upon depressing the plunger at least partially into the interior space, the rocker is configured to rotate about the first and second pivot points based on the hammer sliding along the sloped surface causing the actuator to come between the optical emitter and the optical receiver and interrupt a line of sight between the optical emitter and the optical receiver.
10. The key switch of claim 1, wherein the key switch is a linear switch.
12. The key switch of claim 11, wherein the actuator extends through the actuator hole upon depressing the plunger.
13. The key switch of claim 11, wherein the plunger comprises an upper portion having a cross-shaped cross section to facilitate coupling a key cap thereto.
14. The key switch of claim 11, wherein the plunger comprises a piston and the casing comprises a piston cavity, and wherein the piston is configured to fit at least partially within the piston cavity such that the piston cavity acts as a guide for the piston's movement.
15. The key switch of claim 14, further comprising a second spring disposed between the casing and the plunger, wherein the piston and the piston cavity are disposed at least partially within an interior portion of the second spring.
16. The key switch of claim 15, wherein the second spring creates a first reaction force that is approximately orthogonal to a second reaction force created by the first spring.
17. The key switch of claim 11, wherein the spring directly contacts the casing.
18. The key switch of claim 11, wherein, upon depressing the plunger, the rocker is configured to rotate based on the interaction of the hammer with the sloped surface causing the actuator to come between the optical emitter and the optical receiver and interrupt a line of sight between the optical emitter and the optical receiver.
20. The key switch of claim 6, wherein the key switch is a linear switch.
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June 8, 2020
January 17, 2023
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